The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 259: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| 248 that yua have been referred to him. Will you du this ?” “fan rejuiced that J] have received your per- SHE MYSTERIES. of her loveliness, gave an indescribable charm to her classically chieelied features. Retiring at once to her own chamber, and dis- mission to take this step,” answered the young , misdag her female atteudants the instant they had nobleman, pressing her hand tenderly. Clarendon will not then think it strange that you should have consented to take a drive—round the park shall we say ?—in my carriage.” “ When he sees that your iutentions are honour- able, my Gabriel,” responded Pauline, “he will not allude to the circumstance. With regard to the affair of to-morrow evening, my father fortunately dines out—and I shall not be at a loss to invent some excuse to satis’'y Octavia. Indeed, 1 will teil her that 1 am to accompany you to the Opera—and you must call for me in your carriage at twenty minutes to nine. You can then put me down at Deaborough House in Berkeley Square.” “ All this shall be attended to, my beloved,” said ¥lorimel. “ And now, Gabriel,” resumed the young maiden, gazing tenderly upon him, —“ you must not imagine that because 1 am so rgady in devising the means to lall my sister’s suspicions asleep to-morrow even- ing, and mislead her as to the real place and ob- ject of my visit,—you must not imagine, | say, that duplicity is no stranger to me——” “1 would not wrong you thus grossly [” exclaimed Florimel, in an impassioned tone. “1 know you to be innocence itself—I am aware of the mutives which prompt you to visit Carlton Honse to- morrow evening—and your sisterly feelings render you all the more estimable in my eyes. Yvur con- duct, my Pauline, on the first occasion of our acquaintance, has taught me to admire—love—and respect you,” he added, again pressing the hand which he retained in his own. “And your conduct of this day, Gabriel, has endeared you to me more than I can explain,” murmured the beauteous creature, fixing upon him a look full of unutterable feelings. “It is sweet to be praised by your lips !” exclaimed Florimel, returning that look aith one of adoration. “But I must congratulate you, Pauline, on the readiness with which your appearance and manners engage the esteem and friendship of those with whom you oome in contact. The Dacheas of Devon- shire touk an immediate fancy to you: the Countess of Desborough greeted you as kindly as if you were her sister ;—and the Princess Sophia pleaded most eloquently in your behalf respecting the pre- sentation at the heir-apparent’s ball to-morrow night.” Pauline had no time to respond to these obser- vations: for at the moment her lover had done speaking, the carriage stopped in Cavendish Square, CHAPTER LXXL THE YAIR PATRICIAN AND THE RESUSCITATED. Ir was about four o’clock on that Sunday afternoon when the Countess of Desborough returned to her residence in Berkeley Square. The incidents of the morning had annoyed her ; and there was a certain pouting expression upon her coral lips, which, instead uf impairing the effect “ Mr. | aesiated her to lay aside her bonnet and scarf, she threw herself into an arm-chair and gave way to her refi. ctions. “To-morrow evening I shall be doomed to meet that despicable voluptuary face to face ["—thas ran the current of her thoughts. ®* Oh! how my blood boils at the idea of having permitted him to bestow nis lustful kisses on my cheeks—my lips! How maddened with rage do | feel at the recollection of that weakness which induced me to assent to admit ‘him to my chamber! But thank God! I escaped his polluted ea:brace ;—and the amour which his infamous pander and assistant, the milliner of Pall Mall, was sent hither to forward and promote, was interrupted at the very moment when he stood upoa the threshold of success, and Jon that of shame and degradation. And now—to think that I mast appear to-morrow eyening in the presence of this man—treat him with the respect due to his princely rank—and receive any cuurtesy which he may choose to demonstrate towards me! But even this I could endure—and I shoald not be so deeply vexed and troubled now on that account alone. Alas! 1 foresee that my beloved friend, the Princess Sophia, stands upon an abyss. Her honoar is in the keeping of two young ladies —— And yet neither Octavia nor Pauline would betray her! No—aso: they are good and amiable giris—they will keep her secret. Her secret, indeed! Dues not her royal brother know it?—and is he not aware that the child was born at the very house occupied af the: time by these young ladies? And one of them is to be presented to him to-morruw night! Poor Sophia! were she aware that her secret was thus known to her eldest brother—the bruthes of whom she stands most in awe—she would die with grief. Alas! alas! howis all this toend? My soul is filled with gloomy presentiments. Where- fore should Pauline Clarendon be thus anxious to appear at Carlton House? Is it through that curiosity which influences giddy girls ?—is it to gratify a mere sentiment of vanity ?—or has she a still less worthy motive in view? No—no: she is a good girl, 1 repeat; and it is natural enough that she should desire to mingle in that bright sphere of fashion to the confines of which she has only been so very lately raised.” Such were the conflicting thoughts and anxieties which swept thruugh the imagination of the Coun- tess of Desborough in the solitude of her own chamber. But her reflections gradually flowed into another channel ;—and a vuluptuous langour came gtadually upon her,—like the suftly stealing influ- ence of a dreamy repose in an atmo«phere oppres- sive with mingled sultriness and perfame,—as she murmured the name of Gustavus Wahkefteld ! Then, rising from her seat, she cuntemp herself in the full-length mirror which stood near ; and as she surveyed her own magnificent form, which was so faithfully reflected on that polished surface, a smile of mingled triumph and joy ap- upon her lips—and then, in another moment, her bosom heaved to the profound sigh that came as it were frum the very depths of her soul. But the influence of her warm and impassioned nature was now vupon her;—and, yiekling to the GORMGOOOKS CO